While those in the land down under can already purchase a Nexus 4 from the Play Store, like every other market, handsets are in decidedly short supply. However, LG is now saying that it will be shipping some devices to Harvey Norman, available starting February 1st. The catch? Buying one outright will cost you 496 AUD.

There is an alternative, though. "Select" HN stores will be offering the Nexus 4 with an Optus plan (see site here). Again, that's only an option in-store, beginning February 1st. The lowest tariff you'll be able to get away with without having to pay a handset repayment fee is the 60 AUD tier. Anything lower will tack on a hardware fee in addition to the cost of service.

You can pre-order an unlocked Nexus 4 from HN now (link), and it should ship come February 1st.

SYDNEY, January 24, 2013 – LG Electronics (LG) has announced that the widely anticipated Nexus 4 will be exclusively available through Harvey Norman stores on Optus mobile plans from February 1.

A design collaboration between LG and Google, the LG Nexus 4 was officially launched on Google Play in November 2012, and quickly proved to be a hit after selling out within 20 minutes.

Global demand for the smartphone continues to grow, and offering the handset in Australian stores now will give sales another boost.

The Nexus 4 brings together LG’s advanced hardware design, including Qualcomm’s cutting-edge Snapdragon™ S4 Pro processor, for speed and power. Featuring 2GB of RAM and the latest version of Android® (Jelly Bean), the Nexus 4 is the snappiest Nexus smartphone to date.

“The Nexus 4 is a great example of how LG’s state of the art hardware is innovating in the smartphone market with Google choosing to be its latest hardware partner,” said Lambro Skropidis, General Marketing Manager at LG Australia.

“The response in Australia has been overwhelmingly positive on Google Play already, and we know our Harvey Norman partnership will create even greater demand.”

Stock will be available for an outright purchase of $496 in all Harvey Norman stores and on an Optus plan in selected stores. Pricing will be dependent on the customer’s choice of Optus plan; details of the suggested plans and pricing can be found in store and online atwww.harveynorman.com.au.

Comments

Josh Michielsen

That is quite the markup...considering I had one imported to Australia from the US Play Store, for a grand total of AU$370, which includes the additional shipping cost from the mail forwarding company...

and how did you do that? i want to import one too, it's also marked up quite crazy in my country, more expensive than in aussie.

Josh Michielsen

I used a proxy (TunnelBear) and a mail forwarding company (comGateway).

Sean Bassett

so why the hell have we not been able to get this from the playstore... if HN can get stock, why cant google.

PINJ

Because They Overpaid For Them

master94

Google destroyed the launch. Its too late, people have moved onto better phones. Hopefully Google learns from this and does better next time.

Sootie

Which better phones are there mate? I can see that if they havent got it resolved by MWC it might be an issue but I cant really think of any phones that you can actually walk into a shop and buy now that are any better than the N4

PINJ

HTC Droid DNA.

Juan Carlos Contreras

Does the HTC DNA have 4.2.1 or will it get Key-lime Pie as fast the Nexus 4! Again, N4 is the best pure Android (Vanilla) phone!

Besides, in most respects, the decision between the two isn't really the same. The DNA is a Verizon exclusive while the Nexus 4 is GSM unlocked (they'll never share a network). The DNA, thanks to Verizon, is pretty locked down while the N4 is pretty open.

And as far as Australia is concerned, I don't think they have a variant of the J Butterfly...but I doubt anybody still cares that this article was about Australia :)

Sootie

"but I doubt anybody still cares that this article was about Australia" I do, maaaateee!

There are phones with better internal specifications, but many people would disagree that there is a better phone.

jimmysmalia

You are so right my friend. I look at the phone and the Woow effect is gone. If they've done their job correctly they would have sold at least double the amount they have sold with the current situation.

blontic

Checkout already says all stores in Melbourne are on back order so you can't even order through the site yet.

Factor in delivery, you're talking AU$419 from google (if you could get one) or $496 from HN.

Seems pretty reasonable to me when you factor in that Google reportedly make little or nothing on the sale (making $399 essentially the wholesale cost) - HN aren't going to just give them away without taking a cut.